About Dr. Abraham Lebenthal

Dr. Abraham ‘Avi’ Lebenthal is an experienced surgical oncologist working at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston. He specializes in the treatment of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and diseases of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction.

Dr. Lebenthal completed a four year internship at BWH before working there. In fact, he was the first fellow at BWH to train specifically in minimally invasive thoracic surgery. During his fellowship and residency, he gained expertise performing procedures like video–assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), laparoscopy and several therapeutic endoscopic techniques. He was also mentored by Dr. David Sugarbaker, innovator of the extrapleural pneumonectomy, a highly successful surgery for patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

Dr. Lebenthal isn’t just technically experienced. He also has a special gift for personalizing cancer treatment, making the process for each patient as comfortable as possible. He stresses a patient-centered approach to cancer treatment, preferring to adjust the care he provides to fit each patient’s specific diagnosis.

“Excellence in modern medicine is about doing things for and not to our patients, about knowing how to tailor a solution for an individual patient” – Dr. Abraham ‘Avi’ Lebenthal

Helping Veterans Survive Mesothelioma

Currently, Dr. Lebenthal divides his time between Brigham and Women’s and the VA Boston Healthcare system, where he demonstrates his commitment to veterans diagnosed with service-connected mesothelioma by providing the best mesothelioma care possible.

Because there are so few mesothelioma specialists in the VA system, Dr. Lebenthal is in a unique position to help veterans, who are often misdiagnosed with the rare disease.

Despite making up only 8 percent of the population, veterans account for 30 percent of mesothelioma cases in the US.

As a 13 year veteran of the Israeli Army, Dr. Lebenthal holds a special connection with disabled veterans in the US. While serving as a battalion physician and platoon commander, he learned how important these veterans – men and women willing to sacrifice everything for their country – are, and strives to express this through his work at the Boston VA.

If you’re a veteran diagnosed with service-connected mesothelioma, we can help you get in touch with an experienced mesothelioma specialists like Dr. Lebenthal.

Qualifications

Achievements

Member of the International Mesothelioma Program, which is dedicated to advancing research and supporting patients diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Served as battalion physician and platoon commander in the Israeli Army

Earned a Letter of Distinction for Bravery for treating injured Israeli soldiers under fire

Research Interests

Minimally invasive surgery

Benign and malignant esophageal diseases

Lung transplantation

Teaching and refining laparoscopic skills

Connecting to an Experienced Doctor

Connecting to an experienced doctor is the most important step you can take towards improving your prognosis. Mesothelioma is a rare disease, and few doctors have treated or diagnosed it. To get the best, most effective treatment, seek treatment from a mesothelioma specialist.

Our Patient Help Team can review your diagnosis and find an experienced specialist for you. Reach out to a member of our team for help connecting to a specialist, more information on mesothelioma, and assistance finding financial aid.